Brake mechanism for railway-cars



E.P0ss0N.

BRAKE MECHANISMFOR RAILWAY CARS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. l?, |917.

1,364,641. Patented Jan. 4,1921..

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E. POSSON.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION man MAR. 17, 191i.

1,364,641, Patented Jan. 4,1921.

i 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2. i1- 11 -377 Z v l Patnted Jan. 4, 1921;

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E. PossoN; BRAKE M-ECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 17, 191'7.

Eazy/a ,@PJJO i@ Mge/@ga E. POSSON.

BRAKE MECHANSM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED mn.17. 1917.

1,364,641. A. r Patnted Jan. 4,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Elven/Z221 E. PossoN. BRAKE MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7,.19I7 1,364,641, Patented JmL-4,1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

BRAKE MECHANISM vFOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed March 17, 1917. Serial No. 155,415.

Be it known that I, .EDWARD FossoN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake Mechanism for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the brake mechanism of railway cars, and its principal objects are to provide proved means for hanging and actuating the brake beams, and improved means for connecting the brake shoes to the brake beams. The invention is particularly adapted for brake systems in which the brake shoes cla-sp or grip the opposite sides of the car wheels, and are operated through a single system of mechanism extending to some convenient point on the car. An important feature is the provision of improved means for suspending the brake-operating levers in order to secure freedom of action of the levers, and to maintain a substantially parallel relation of the levers which actuate the brake shoes on opposite sides of a single car wheel. further feature is the provision of means for hanging the brake beams in order to permit the necessary movement thereof while clearing the spring plank hangers and other parts of the structure of the car truck. Another important feature is the provision of improved means for supporting the brake shoes on the bra-ke beams, and improved means for maintaining the brake shoes in their proper relation to the peripheral surfaces of the car wheels. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

Various other objects of the invention and the means for accomplishing the same will appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bi'ake mechanism, showing .by dotted line'svarious parts of the `car truck to which the present invention is applied.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a bracket forth-e center lever-connecting carrier.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of one of the suspending links or levers for the center lever-connecting carrier.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a brake beam hanger.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of another form of brake beam hanger.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the center lever-connecting carrier.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged side elevation of a car wheel and part of the brake mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a partial end elevation of the car truck, and a partial section on the line 8-8 of Fig. l, showing by dotted lines parts which are not embodied in the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows a top plan view of the brake mechanism, the car axles being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a spring plank hanger.

Fig. 1l shows a perspective view of a brake hanger bracket.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective View of a brake beam key.

Fig. 13 shows a vertical section through a' brake hanger, illustrating the connection of the brake shoe withthe brake beam.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective 'view of the brake head adjusting connector'.

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the brake head adjusting spring and bracket.

Fig. 16 shows a side elevation of a brake beam.

Fig. 17 shows an end and Fig. 18 shows a top plan view of the brake beam. p

In the drawings the invention is illustrated as applied to a car truck, designated generally by the numeral 25, having a wooden frame. This truck comprises side frame members 26 upon which are mounted the lever-carrying brackets 27, having the form illustrated particularly in Fig. 2, from which it will be seen that the bracket comprises a flange 27a directed inwardly and secured to 'the frame member by suitable bolts or rivets engaging the holes 28. These brackets are located above the axles 29 of the car wheels 30, and the brackets above the central and inner wheelsare of shorter length than the bracket 27 over the end wheel of the truck. These brackets serve to support the brake mechanism, which comprises a plurality of suspending links or leelevation thereof;

vers 31, pivotally connected to the hangers 27 by means of bolts 32 engaging the upper ends of the links 31, and suitable apertures 33 in the outwardly spaced, downwardly directed flanges 27b of the brackets 27, Two of the links 31 are connected to each of the center brackets 27, and one is connected to the end bracket 27. The lower ends of the links 31 are inserted between and pivotally connected to complementary members 34a of the center lever-connecting carriers 34, having the form illustrated particularly in Fig. (3. The links are pivotally connected to the lever carriers by means of suitable pins 35 engaging the links and suitable apertures 36 in the lever carriers, and these apertures are so located that the links 31, connected to the center brackets, will have a parallel relation.

A pluralit of truck levers 40, which are indicated in 4ig. 1 by the numerals 4G, 40h, 40C, 40d, 40e, and 40f, are mounted between the members 34a of the lever carriers, and pivotally connected to the ends thereof at intermediate points on the levers by means of pins 41. The upper end of the innermost truck lever 40EL is pivotally connected to an operating link or rod 42 which extends to suitable brake-operating mechanism located at a suitable place on the car, andthe upper ends of the levers 40h- 406, and 4O-40e are pivotally connected by means of the connecting rods 43 and 44, respectively. The upper end of the truck lever 402 at the end of the truck, is pivotally connected to the downwardly-directed flange of the end bracket 27.

It will be apparent that the arrangement is such that the two truck levers 4() adjacent each car wheel are substantially parallel. The lower ends of these truck levers are pivotally connected to the brake beams carrying the brake shoes, so that when the connecting rod 42 is actuated the motion is transmitted through the tr ck levers and their hangers to all of the brake shoes, which are thereby moved into or out of engagement with the peripheries of the car wheels in a manner to be hereinafter more fully ete plained.

Before discussing further the operation of the brake lever mechanism, I will describe the means by which the brake shoes and brake beams are mounted. The side frames of the truck have projecting outwardly therefrom the arms 45, which are connected by pins 46 with the spring plank hangers or brackets 47, as shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8. These pivoted brackets carry shoes 47 a having rounded upper surfaces upon which the spring planks 48 are adapted to rock. The springs 49 are mounted on the spring planks according to the modern method of car construction. Hanger brackets 51, having the form shown particularly in Fig. 11, are secured to transverse frame members 50 of the car truck, those on the inner sides of the end wheels of the truck being directed downwardly, while those on opposite sides of the center wheel of the truck are directed upwardly. The parallel ears 51a of these brackets are apertured, and are pivotally connected to brake hangers.

The brake hangers 52, on opposite sides of the center wheel, have the form shown in Fig. 4, and the brake hangers 53, adjacent the end wheels of the truck. have the forni shown in Fig. 5. lt will be seen that the brake hangers 52 are offset, as shown at 52, in order to clear the transverse frame members Of the car truck, and they are of greater length than the hangers 53, owingto the necessary location of the brackets 51, caused by the construction of the truck. The hangers 53 at the ends of the truck are suspended from suitable supporting members 54 passing through the end frame membersI 55 of thc truck. The lower ends of the hangers are provided with cylindrical bearing members 56 which are adapted to be rotatably engaged by the cylindrical, parts of the brak-e beams 5S. The central parts of the brake beams have rectangular cross sections, as illustrated in Figs. 16, 17, and 13, and each brake beam carries at its opposite ends cylindrical parts 57, which terminate in parts 59 of reduced diameter having annular grooves 60 formed therein adjacent tl eir eX- tremities. rlhe parts 56 of the brake hangers rotatably engage the parts 57 of the brake beams, and thus permit a free movement thereof toward or away from 'the wheels which movement is effected through the lever mechanism previously described. rThe truck levers are connected to the brake beams by means of the truck lever connectors 62, having enlarged bearing members 62 at one end which are keyed to the brake beams 58, and having apertures G2" at the other end which are pivotally connected to the truck levers 40. By providing a plurality of apertures 62b it is possible to change the connectors on the truck levers in order to vary the positions of the paths of travel of the brake shoes and brake beams. It will be seen that the parts 57 of the brake beams are provided with key-ways 57 to permit a rigid connection with the members 62, and these key-ways serve also to permit the formation of a `fixed connection with the brackets 64, which are mounted en the parts 57 and which carry the brake head adjusting springs 65. These springs are mounted between the downwardly directed ears (341 of the brackets, and are secured thereto by means of rivets 66, or the like. The brake heads (57, carrying the brake slices 68 are rotatably mounted on the reduced end portions 59 of the brake beams and abut against the shoulders 59a, formed by the ends of the parts 57. T he brake heads are maintained on the brake beams by means ot brake beam keys '70, having` the form illustrated particularly in Fig. 12. These keys have U-shaped slots '701, which are adapted to lit into the annular grooves at the ends of the brake beams. rlhese keys are further provided with upward extensions h, having,` apertures 70C, by means of which the key is secured to the flange 67' of the brake head by means of the pins '71. ln this way the brake heads are securely lixed on the ends or the brake beams without the use of nuts or other similar :Fastening` devices. and the brake shoes are maintained in the proper positions on the brake beams by means ot' the springs G5, previously described, which are bent at their lower ends to form the apertured ears G52', which are pivotally connected to the connecting' members 73, shown particularly in Fig. 14. These connecting` members are pivotally connected at their other ends to flanges GT of the brake heads by means ot pins T4. By means 01": this connection the lower end or" the brake shoe is maintained in contact with the car wheel when the brake shoes are moved into operative positions, and at the same time the adjusting springs (35 permit the necessary adjustment of the brake shoes to the peripheries of the car wheels.

In the operation of this mechanism the movement of the operating rod 42 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, will first cause the lever 40a to move about its central pivot point on the adjacent member 34C until the corresponding brake shoe 68a is moved into contact with the car wheel. This brake shoe then acts as a fulcrum whereby the continued operation of the brake mechanism will move the member 34,to which the lever l()zL is connected, to the right. This movement will be permitted by the links 31 and will result in a movement ot the lever 40h until the brake shoe 68h engages the opposite side of the inner car wheel, after which this brake shoe will act as a fulcrum, and the upperend of the lever 40h will be moved to the right, and thereby effect the operation of the next truck lever 40C. This truck lever will operate its brake shoe GSC, which will engage its car wheel, and then cause the carrier 34, adjacent the center wheel, to move to the right until the next brake shoe 68d engages the car wheel, The upper end of the lever 40d then moves to the right and actuates the levers 40e and LlOl, thereby causing the brake shoes (SSG and @8f to enga-ge opposite sides of the car wheel at the end of the truck. During' this operation oppositely disposed levers d0, adjacent each car wheel, will maintain a substantially parallel relation. and the link 31 will permit a free and efficient movement ot the carriers Sil, which will result in a quick action of the brake mechanism and an even pressure of the brake shoes on the various car wheels. llt will be apparent that the construction of the lever mechanism and orn the brake hangers permits the operation of the apparatus with.- out interference with the spring structure.

An important feature of the invention is the novel means of attaching' the brake heads to the brake beams, so that they are held securedly and cannot be accidentally displaced, although they may be conveniently removed when desired.

The means for supporting,` the brake beams and for mounting the brake shoes on the bra-ke beams are described andclaimed in my co-pending divisional application Ser. No. 196,831,131@ october e, i917.

@ne embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for the purposes of illustration, but it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in various forms without departing` from its scope as defined in the appended claims.

l claim l. ln a railway car, a truck comprising a plurality of wheels, brake shoes suspended on opposite sides and in the plane of each of said wheels to coact with the peripheries thereof, truck levers located opposite each of said wheels, connecting` rods extending between said levers, and supporting means located centrally opposite each of said wheels and engaging those connecting rods which extend across the axes of said wheels for supporting all of said levers and all of said rods.

2. ln a. railway car, a car truck, a bracket secured to said truck above one or" its wheels, a lever carrier pivotally suspended from said bracket, truck levers pivoted on the opposite ends of said lever carrier, brake beams connected to the lower ends of said truck levers, brake shoes carried by said brake beams, and operating;-connections extending to the upper ends of said truck levers.

3. ln a railway car, a car truck, a supportingr member carried by the frame oi" said truck, a pair ot links pivoted on said supporting` member and extending` downwardly therefrom, a lever carrier pivoted to each of said links at the lower end thereof, truck levers pivoted to thel opposite ends of said lever carrier, brake beams suspended from said frame at opposite sides of a car wheel, brake shoes carried by said brake beams and adapted to coact with opposite sides ot said wheel, means for connecting; said bra-ke bea-ms with the lower ends of said truck levers, and operating connections `for the upper ends olf said truck levers.

4. ln a railway car, a car truck comprising a plurality of wheels` brackets secured to the frame ol said truck above the axles of each of said wheels, parallel links pivoted on said brackets and depending therefrom', lever carriers pivoted to the lower ends of said links, truck levers pivoted at intermediate points on the opposite ends of said lever carriers, means for operatively connecting` the upper ends or' said truck levers, and brake shoes connected to the lower ends of said truck levers and adapted to engage opposite sides of each of said car wheels.

5. ln a railway car, a car truck comprising a plurality of wheels, lever carriers pivotally suspended substantially above the axles of said car wheels, truclr levers pivotally connected to the opposite ends or said lever carriers, brake beams suspended from the 'frame of said truck and extending` on opposite sides of each of said wheels, brake shoes carried by said brake beams and adapted to engage opposite sides of said wheels, means for connecting` said brake beams with the lower ends of said truck lever, an operating member pivotally connected to the upper end of the truck lever at one end of said truclr, means for pivotally connecting the upper end of the truck lever at the other end oi: the truclr to the truck frame, and means for operatively connecting the' upper ends of the intermediate truck levers.

6. In a railway car, a car truck comprising a plurality of' wheels, brackets secured to the frame of said truck above the axles or each o said wheels, parallel links pivoted on said brackets and depending` therefrom, lever carriers pivoted to the lower ends or said links, truck levers pivoted at intermediate points on the opposite ends of said lever carriers, means for operatively Connect-iup; he upper ends of said truck levers, brake shoes connected to the lower ends or said truck levers and adapted to engage opposite sides of each of said car wheels, and means for maintaining the operating surfaces or' said brake shoes concentric with their respective car wheels.

7. In a railway car, a truck comprising a plurality of wheels, movable members mounted opposite each of said wheels, means for supporting said movable members directly from the frame of said truck, truck levers pivoted on opposite ends of said movable members, brake shoes mounted adjacent the peripheries of said wheels and connected to the lower ends of said brake levers, means mounted independently of the truck frame for operatively connecting said truck levers, and means connected to one or said levers for actuating all of said brake shoe.` through said truck levers and movable members.

8. ln a railway car, a truck comprising a plurality of wheels, a lever carrier suspended from said truck adjacent each of said wheels, truck levers pivotally mounted on said lever carriers, brake shoes pivotally connected to said truck levers and adapted to engage opposite sides of each of said wheels, operating connections between adj acent pairs of said truck levers, and means connected to one of said truck levers Jfor simultaneously actuating all of said truck levers through said lever carriers.

9. In a railway car, a car truck, a supporting member mounted adjacent a wheel thereof, a lever carrier suspended from said supporting member above the axle of said wheel, truck levers pivoted at intermediate points on said lever carrier on opposite sides or said axle, brake shoes connected to the lower ends of said truck levers, and operat ing connections extending to the upper ends of said truck levers.

lO. In a railway ear, a ear truck, a supporting` member mounted adjacent a wheel thereof, a lever carrier suspended from said supporting member, truck levers mounted on opposite ends of said lever carrier, brake shoes connected to said truck levers and adapted to engage' opposite sides of the periphery of said wheel, and operating connections extending, to said truck levers.

ln testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

EDWARD PQSSON. 

